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“There’s a Fine Line Between Seeing Everything and Experiencing the Destination”

🌎 1️⃣ Experiences Create Memories — Checklists Don’t

You can see 10 hotels in a day, but if you don’t actually experience what makes each one special, it’s just a list of lobbies and room types.

  • Planners and buyers remember how a place made them feel, not just what it looked like.

  • Hotels should focus on immersive touchpoints — tasting the chef’s signature dish, interacting with staff, or seeing a meeting setup in action.

  • The emotional connection is what converts a site visit into future business.

⏱️ 2️⃣ Depth Beats Speed When It Comes to Familiarization

Fam trips are about understanding fit, not checking boxes.

  • Spending more time in fewer locations helps you identify authentic experiences and true value for your clients.

  • Quality interactions with hotel staff and DMO partners reveal much more than a fast-paced tour schedule ever could.

  • When planners slow down, they see the details — service, story, and spirit — that make a property memorable.

💬 3️⃣ The Best FAMs Balance Education with Emotion

The goal isn’t to see it all, it’s to feel it all.

  • Yes, the meeting space and guest rooms matter — but so does the overall vibe of the destination.

  • Planners should walk away saying, “I could see my group here,” not just “I visited there.”

  • Hotels and DMOs should curate moments that speak to why someone would choose them, not just what they offer.

“FAM trips shouldn’t feel like a marathon — they should feel like a memory.” - roh

Russell L Edmond